Letter: Eastern Pa. man wants to end death sentence appeal

EASTON, Pa. (AP) — A letter purportedly from a man sentenced to death in the stabbing deaths of four people in eastern Pennsylvania says the defendant no longer wishes to continue his appeal.

Forty-year-old Michael Ballard pleaded guilty to killing his ex-girlfriend and three others in Northampton in June 2010. He was on parole at the time for a 1991 slaying. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld his death sentence in November.

The (Easton) Express-Times (http://bit.ly/1hLvlTf ) reports that the typed letter dated June 2 says that a federal defender acted without Ballard's permission in filing the appeal and he only learned about it through news reports.

District Attorney John Morganelli said he cannot confirm that Ballard wrote the letter but he believes it is legitimate. He said his office will investigate.